Original subtitles

(birds chirping)

- [Narrator] As she waits for her prey to die,

Velvet adjusts her fangs.

They can really get in the way sometimes.

(light dramatic music) - Black mambas have

very few enemies in the wild,

but she's about to meet her nemesis.

The slender mongoose, a notorious snake killer.

They may look like featherweights in the ring,

but these are two of the most

lethal predators on the planet.

(light dramatic music) (snake hisses)

The mongoose has a razor sharp teeth and lightening speed.

One bite from a mamba but can kill 15 grown men.

So imagine what it can do to a five pound mongoose.

(light dramatic music) (birds chirping)

The mamba is lethal, but she's not tough.

She relies on her venom to sedate her victims

and immobilize their weapons.

Here's the kicker:

the mongoose has an antidote to her potion.

The toxins in snake venom attach to chemical receptors

in their victims and block communications

between nerves and muscles.

Mongoose receptors have mutated

so that venom simply bounces off the muscle cells.

He's literally immune to danger.

The mongoose M.O. is to dance circles around his prey

until it's exhausted.

And then the kill shot.

One swift snap to the back of the head

and the spine is severed.

(light dramatic music)

The snake's still alive, but paralyzed.

Her muscles twitch, but her bite is gone.

For the mongoose, the reward outweighs the risk.

A seven foot snake is a hearty meal

for a pint-size predator.

(light dramatic music) (birds chirping)

(light music)

- [Narrator] Pythons have lived in Africa

for millions of years, long before humans

arrived on the scene.

The snake we see today has changed little

from its prehistoric forebears.

It's among the world's most primitive snakes.

The small thorn like projections on their lower body,

known as pelvic spurs, are thought to be vestiges

of a time when these animals had hind legs.

This is Squeeze.

A pair of hind legs might actually come in handy right now,

as she's weighed down by eggs inside her.

They've grown to the point where it's hard

to make much progress.

Each egg weighs about as much as a billiard ball.

That's around 50 billiard balls

she's been hauling around for weeks.

She's ready to lighten her load,

but she can't just dump them anywhere.

(ground rustling) (bugs chirping)

She's been searching for the right spot for weeks.

This hollow at the base of an old silver oak tree

could provide shelter from the elements,

hide her eggs from predators

and keep them at a constant temperature.

(light music)

For an animal capable of such massive displays of power,

she can be surprisingly maternal.

She arranges her eggs in a pile

and coils around them tightly.

(crickets chirping) (light dramatic music)

- [Narrator] The false smooth snake is

a small venomous lizard hunter.

It uses its keen sense of smell to locate prey

in the craggy rocks.

The snake usually stays above ground,

but it's caught wind of the worm lizard.

The lizard retreats into its narrow tunnel,

using chemical markers to find its way around.

(light dramatic music)

Deeper they go.

But the snake is perhaps a little too well fed

and his girth stops him up.

It's a narrow escape for the lucky lizard.

Outmaneuvered underground, the snake regroups

in the warm sun.

Waiting for easier prey to wander by,

the serpent blends into the terrain.

Just like Alhambra blends into the rock

that forms its foundation.

- [Narrator] As the summer draws to a close

the creatures of the Western Ghats

seek out shelter to prepare for the rainy months ahead.

A rat snake heads deep into the forest.

But Raja's on a different mission.

It's been more than a month since he last ate.

The rat snake slides right into his trap.

(light dramatic music)

(snake hisses)

Raja's fangs take their deadly hold,

shooting a dose of neurotoxic venom into his quarry.

His fangs gather up the meal step by step and inch by inch,

feeding it down his long, straight digestive tract.

King cobras can't chew, it's all in the gulp.

(light dramatic music) (birds chirping)

- [Narrator] Morning turns to afternoon.

As the hours tick by, Nagaina still lies in wait.

(light dramatic music continues)

Finally, the spectacled cobra unfurls from its hiding place

and cautiously ventures down.

It seems about to make good its escape,

but then pauses for a drink.

(suspenseful music)

Nagaina makes her move.

This time the spectacled cobra must stand and fight.

(light dramatic music)

Flaring its hood and displaying its aggressive markings,

the smaller snake tries to exaggerate its size.

(light dramatic music continues)

But it is totally outmatched.

(snake hisses)

Nagaina won't relent.

(light dramatic music continues)

Both have powerful venom, but Nagaina's armor is thicker

and she's immune to the venom of snakes on which she preys.

The odds are stacked in her favor.

She strikes and delivers a fatal bite.

The large dose of injected poison works quickly.

(light dramatic music continues)

It's a neurotoxin causing paralysis,

suffocation and death in minutes.

The spectacled cobra tries to twist its way free.

But Nagaina has too strong a grip.

She begins to eat, swallowing her prey whole

and still alive.

Inch by inch Nagaina's fangs draw her victim's body

down her throat.

All four feet of it.

A meal this size would typically satisfy her

for up to a month,

but this one will have to stretch quite a bit longer.

She won't eat again until she's laid her eggs

and incubated them through to hatching.

(light dramatic music continues)

Which means no more hunting for several months.

- [Narrator] In the wild animals create pathways

through the bush known as game trails.

For creatures like tiny rodents

to the world's largest land mammals,

these trails provide easier movement

and often lead to waterholes or good feeding grounds.

And it's along paths like these that puff adders

will position themselves to wait for prey.

(light dramatic music) (hyenas barking)

But when unsuspecting victims, weighing thousands of pounds,

tread too close for comfort, a little 13 pounder puff adder

can defend itself in a mighty way.

It doesn't seem possible that a bite from a tiny snake

could pierce the skin of a rhino,

let alone do any serious damage.

But here's evidence to the contrary.

(light dramatic music)

A bite caused such severe necrosis on the leg

of this black rhino that her entire foot rotted off,

leaving behind just bone fragments

and flaps of decaying flesh.

Trauma like this would render most animals immobile,

ensuring a slow and painful death due

to starvation and septicemia.

It's an extreme example of what happens

when a puff adder bite is left untreated.

(light dramatic music)

- [Narrator] Tyrannosaurus, one of history's

most fearsome mega predators, but now a new discovery

joins the ranks of killer carnivores.

And this one was a genuine giant:

48 feet long, weighing over a ton,

the largest prehistoric snake ever found, Titanoboa.

T-Rex and Titanoboa lived in different times

and on separate continents.

But what if these two monsters met in a battle to the death?

T-Rex brings to the fight a bone crushing jaw,

a bite force nearly twice a great white shark's,

powerful legs, and a thrashing tail.

Titanoboa's attack didn't depend on poisonous venom,

it killed by constriction, and this mega serpent

squeezed with a crushing 400 pounds per square inch

of pressure, equivalent to being squished

with the weight of three Eiffel towers.

How would this death match conclude?

Difficult to say.

If T-Rex got in a swift bite it could mortally wound

the snake, but with the right ambush,

Titanoboa might trip up the T-Rex and succeed

in overpowering the great lizard king.

- [Narrator] Today Raja is ready to take

it to the next level.

He descends to rouse his bride.

Hannah exits cautiously.

(birds chirping)

Today the king is bold and eager.

His sudden change in attitude triggers

her into a submissive coil.

She presents her body to him for inspection.

He's picking up all the right signs that she's receptive.

(light music) (birds chirping)

While Hannah's ritual is a slinky display,

male king cobras are far less subtle.

Headbutting his queen is the cue that he's ready to mate.

(light music) (leaves rustling)

The snakes bind themselves together in a tight embrace.

Under their leafy canopy they may lie like this for hours

as he fertilizes her.

They will mate several times over the coming days.

(birds chirping)

- [Narrator] Nearly three months have passed

since Nagaina mated with the village male.

It's now the end of May and she'll soon be ready to lay.

Most species of snake seek out a cavity

or an abandoned burrow in which to lay their eggs,

but not Nagaina.

King cobras are the only snakes that build a nest.

It's a unique skill that allows Nagaina

to select the perfect spot to give her young

the greatest chance of survival.

On a slope near the base of a tree

her nest is shaded from the hot sun,

but more importantly, it won't get waterlogged

by the monsoon rain.

(leaves rustling) (birds chirping)

She's been hard at work for more than a week now.

Coiling her body, she steadily amasses fallen leaves

and twigs, drawing them together into a pile.

It's a delicate process that could take

a couple of weeks to complete.

(birds chirping) (leaves rustling)

(light dramatic music)

The rustling leaves attract attention.

A rat snake on the lookout for rodents

rummaging in the undergrowth.

(light dramatic music continues)

Approaching the lair of a snake killer

is a dangerous mistake.

But with an abdomen full of eggs, Nagaina has zero appetite.

She has only one thing on her mind.

At last the nest is ready.

(birds chirping)

More than a foot high and three feet wide,

it's a masterpiece of engineering.

Inside Nagaina creates a small chamber

in which she lays a clutch of up to 40 eggs.

Once covered with more leaves,

the chamber will stay at an almost constant 80 degrees

and 90% humidity for the next three months.

Her work complete, Nagaina stands guard,

a queen on her throne.

She won't budge until her babies are ready to hatch.

The mongoose and wild boar that roam this forest

would love to feast on her eggs.

(light dramatic music) (birds chirping)

But they'd be foolish to try.

Nothing is going to challenge this mother

when it comes to her babies.

- [Narrator] As we arrive we can see the snake

in front of the house.

- [Man] Quick, it's getting over the wall.

(light music) (muffled talking)

- [Narrator] It's a massive reticulated python.

- Watch out.

Watch it! - They can grow

to more than 19 feet in length.

The longest snake in the world.

These pythons kill by constriction,

wrapping themselves around their prey

and suffocating them to death.

They've been known to take pets,

livestock and even children.

So we've gotta get this snake out of here

as soon as possible.

- It's wrapping itself around me.

- [Narrator] With up to 15,000 muscles,

you do not want this snake getting a hold of you.

- Okay.

All right, in.

Woo!

Nicely done.

- [Narrator] After wrestling the snake into a sack

to keep it and us safe,

we stop in at the local wildlife park to pick up a crate

large enough to comfortably contain it.

- [Man] Okay, find the head.

This.

- [Man] Yeah, there it is, I can see its head.

- [Man] Okay, you grab that.

- [Man] You want me to get the head?

- [Man] (laughs) Yeah.

- Are you sure? - Yes.

- [Man] All right, all right.

Okay, okay.

- Go, go, go, go. - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Wait, wait, hold it.

One here, on here.

Okay, no. - You okay?

- Yeah, I've got it. - This is my first time

handling a snake of this size.

- Got it. - And then you'll pull up.

- Got it. - There, through there.

- [Man] Yeah.

- [Man] Okay, okay.

- And now we're just gonna transfer the snake

into this crate so it's got a little

bit more room to maneuver.

And it's trying to wrap itself around me.

And now, wait, wait.

- [Narrator] Its strength is phenomenal.

- Yes. (heavy breathing)

I survived.

Snake wrangler.

Now load it into the car. - Yeah.

- [Man] And drive it back into the forest.

- [Man] Yep.

- So, Ben, I've decided to give the snake a name.

- What name? - I'm calling it Monty.

- [Ben] Monty?

- Monty. Monty Python.

- Monty Python? - Get it?

(both laughing)

(light music)

- [Narrator] With Monty loaded up, next stop:

a protected reserve in the heart of Borneo

several hours drive from the city

where the snake will have plenty of space

to live out its life.

- So we've just arrived at the edge of the forest reserve

and now it's time to release this beautiful python

back into the jungle.

(ground rustling) (bugs chirping)

Does this look like a good place, Ben?

- Yeah, I think it's okay.

Are you ready? - I'm ready.

Am I going for the head again

or are you going for the head?

- The head is all the way, it's you.

- [Man] Oh, it's me.

- [Narrator] The python may be a constrictor,

but it can still deliver a powerful bite.

- Whoa. (bugs chirping)

He's a bit feisty, it's been quite a long journey.

- [Ben] Okay, ready?

- [Man] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- [Ben] Grab the head.

- Grab the head? - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

(light music)

- Yeah, I think...

Maybe you just stay with the head.

Looks like you've got a firm grip, I don't wanna ruin that.

So now the time has come to release Monty

back into this ancient rainforest

and far away from human developments as possible.

And hopefully never to be seen again.

So, let's release him.

(light dramatic music) Oh, he's coming back for us.

(light music)

Another job well done, fellas.

That was a feisty snake.

I'm gonna quite miss him.

I've grown kind of attached to old Monty.

(light dramatic music) (birds chirping)

- [Narrator] Any number of potential prey

could venture past.

Velvet isn't picky, she'll eat anything

from rodents, birds, small antelope, and monkeys.

(light dramatic music)

(suspenseful music)

A slight miscalculation makes no difference.

Once she's set her sights on a target

there's no chance for escape.

Her strike isn't the fastest in the snake world,

but at over 20 feet per second, it does the job.

The shock of the attack stuns the bird

while the complex venom cocktail rapidly floods its body.

As she waits for her prey to die, Velvet adjusts her fangs.

They can really get in the way sometimes.

Within 10 minutes, it's all over, and lunch is ready.

Eating is a specialized process.

Velvet unhinges her jaw to allow her to open

her mouth wide enough.

Using rows of teeth to latch on,

she drags her prey to a safe place

where she can eat in peace.

- [Narrator] Baby mambas are notoriously nervous

and highly aggressive.

But at this vulnerable age,

they're still easy prey for mongoose,

honey badgers and predatory birds,

all of which have immunity to a dose of snake venom.

(birds chirping)

Over the coming months the hatchlings

will grow constantly and rapidly,

and by a year the females will be ready to mate

and the males will be fighting for breeding rights.

For now their pin sharp focus is finely tuned

on their first mission.

Predation.

Mambas prefer warm blooded prey

like small mammals and birds.

(light dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

(light dramatic music)

During the course of its life

this mamba will learn how much venom is necessary

in order to immobilize each specific kill.

Sometimes bypassing venom altogether

if the prey is small and helpless.

(birds chirping)

Just days after birth the baby mambas

have already proven themselves as adept hunters.

Capable of fending for themselves and taking

their rightful place in Mamba Valley.

(birds chirping)

- [Narrator] The three month long mating season

is almost over.

As she approaches the village, the male flicks his tongue,

searching for small scent particles in the air.

He may be able to smell her presence,

but her heady cocktail of pheromones

has attracted another admirer.

(light dramatic music)

A second male has picked up her trail in the forest

and followed her into the village.

And he's been spotted.

King cobras can see prey up to 300 feet away.

The village male sees the intruder approaching

and he is fiercely territorial, especially in mating season.

He moves to intercept the trespasser.

(light dramatic music)

The two males size each other up.

Rearing a third of their bodies off the ground

they flare their trademark hoods in a display of aggression.

(light dramatic music) (snakes hissing)

Biting would be futile and a waste of the precious toxin,

as their own powerful venom has little effect

on other king cobras.

(light dramatic music continues)

Instead, their bodies entwine in a wrestling match.

The aim is to force their opponent's head to the ground.

Oblivious to everything around them, they vie for dominance.

(light dramatic music) (snakes hissing)

Their brawl carries them out of the village

and into the forest.

They will fight as long as they have the strength.

Winning and earning the right to breed is all that matters.

(light dramatic music)

After five hours of combat the intruding challenger

accepts defeat and slinks off into the forest.

His dominance established, the village male

now has his chance with Nagaina.

(light dramatic music)

- [Narrator] This is Squeeze.

An eight year old rock python propelled

by the same primordial needs that drove her ancestors

in the days when dinosaurs walked the earth.

She can hunt in any terrain at any time of day

for virtually any prey.

She hasn't eaten in two weeks.

For good reason.

She's carrying a clutch of just developing eggs.

She can't eat a big meal,

not while they're gestating inside.

But she's hungry.

A snack would be just the thing.

Something that in her sluggish state

might not require a lot of work.

(light dramatic music)

She waits for nightfall.

(crickets chirping)

Like most snakes, the rock python has poor vision,

but that doesn't mean it can't find you.

Squeeze can sense body heat with incredible accuracy.

The scales on her lips have pit organs,

which are full of heat sensitive receptors.

Nerves carry signals from the receptors to the brain

where they're converted into images.

Squeeze is looking for something just the right size.

Like Goldilocks, not too small.

A frog is hardly worth the effort.

Not too big.

It would be hard, even for a rock python, to swallow a cow.

(light dramatic music) (crickets chirping)

But here's something just right.

This rabbit has come to dine on some tasty cabbages.

Unfortunately for the rabbit,

the cabbages are perfect cover for Squeeze.

The rabbit's acute hearing is legendary,

but it seems oblivious to the approach

of this stealth hunter.

(suspenseful music) (crickets chirping)

(light dramatic music) (leaves rustling)

It takes a lot of energy to digest a whole rabbit.

She'll be very sluggish for a few days.

Time for a siesta.

- [Narrator] The mole snake isn't venomous,

but it's a powerful constrictor and can inflict

painful bite wounds that can be fatal

if they become infected.

(light dramatic music)

Grit's learned a lot, but this is his ultimate test.

(snake hisses) (badger grumbles)

The snake targets the head.

The badger's weak spot.

(light dramatic music)

But where another animal might run off to find easier prey,

this is a honey badger, nothing scares him.

He keeps on coming.

(snake hisses) (light dramatic music)

The snake tries to run, but once the honey badger

has locked onto its target, it doesn't back down.

(badger growls)

Once the badger immobilizes the snake's jaws

it's game over.

(light dramatic music)

(mouth crunching)

(light music)